A Copycat Conundrum

The Misfits #2

by Lisa Yee, Dan Santat (Illustrator)

When San Francisco is under strange attacks—like earthquakes affecting only two city blocks at a time—who're you gonna call? An elite team of crime-fighting underdogs, that's who! The Misfits are on the case in this hilarious illustrated series!

“For any kid who’s felt like a misfit, this crackling adventure packs a wallop!” —Lincoln Peirce, creator of Big Nate

Oof! After solving the case of the Royal Rumpus, Olive Cobin Zang and her elite team of underdogs are on top of the world. As the awkward, crime-fighting Misfits, they’re acing every mission thrown at them from NOCK (aka No One Can Know, the covert agency they work for).

But when their classmate Zeke starts receiving threatening notes, the Misfits are stumped. They’re no strangers to danger, but this case is a total head-scratcher. Who would target kind, friendly Zeke . . . unless he’s not what he seems to be?

At the same time, unusual earthquakes start shaking up San Francisco just as priceless art goes missing, and the Misfits are called to investigate. Is it a coincidence that the city is under attack while Zeke is getting mysterious messages? Or is it all just a cover for a scheme bigger than any they’ve faced before?

For other Misfit adventures from Newbery Honoree Lisa Yee and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat, don't miss The Misfits #1: A Royal Conundrum!

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Adventure, Audiobook, Friendship, Fiction, Contemporary

278 pages, Hardcover

First published January 7, 2025

About the author

Lisa Yee has written over 20 novels. Her most recent book, Maizy Chen's Last Chance, is about a fifth-generation Chinese American girl, and is a National Book Award Finalist, Newbery Honor, and the Asian Pacific American Children's Literature Award winner.

Lisa's debut novel, Millicent Min, Girl Genius, won the prestigious Sid Fleischman Humor Award. Other books include Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time, Absolutely Maybe, and a series about a 4th grader, Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) and Bobby the Brave (Sometimes), illustrated by Dan Santat.

Lisa is also the author of several American Girl books and the DC Super Hero Girls series. A Thurber House Children’s Writer-in-Residence, Lisa's books have been named a NPR Best Summer Read, Sports Illustrated Kids Hot Summer Read, and USA Today Critics’ Top Pick.

Lisa lives In Western Massachusetts, but spends a lot of time in Los Angeles, especially when it's cold. Her next book, an awkward and hilarious mystery, is called The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum, and is illustrated by Dan Santat.

You can visit Lisa at www.lisayee.com.

Reviews

[Victor The Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following their success of solving the Royal Rumpus case and Olive learning the truth about her family, she and her Misfit gang are immediately on their next case. It involves a RASCH classmate’s great-great uncle that centers on the California gold rush, a sunken gold ship and valuable pieces of Chinese art. If that isn’t enough, earthquakes are usually occurring at pretty suspicious moments.

Another adventurous entry that certainly has a pinch-more thrills and discovery that the first one. We also get another surprise in the end that concludes the Misfits’ story into something pretty heartwarming. A- (91%/Excellent)

[Kennedy Elder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oof oof!

[Skye Elder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was intriguing every page! I love it!!😍

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly illustrated 2nd installment in Yee/Santat The Misfits. Missed reading the first but was easily able to enjoy this one.

Olive has never felt like she had a place in any school she has ever attended, but at RASCH (Royal Arts School), a private school for those with special skills and abilities, she has a group of supportive and loyal friends and now that she has been partnered with several other students with talents in computers, engineering, creative thinking and more, she finds herself feeling content and secure. In book one, the group referred to as The Misfits, were tasked with solving a crime surrounding a priceless necklace and are now recognized by NOCK (No One Can Know) as a talented squad, perfectly capable of aiding local law enforcement or, in some cases, taking the lead. Book 2 is centered in the art world as well as early American history and the gold rush. Fellow RASCH classmate Zeke, not a NOCK agent, has discovered that a distant relative found gold and was trying to complete a sale when his ship is sunk losing not only gold, but priceless Chinese art pieces. These pieces are beginning to show up in a museum nearby but counterfeiting is suspected and no one is above suspicion.

Readers in grades 4-6 are sure to be engrossed in all the twists and turns plus all the techie gadgets invented by a student their age. Lee’s fast-paced adventure/mystery is enhanced by Santat’s frequent illustration breaks.

Text is free of profanity and sexual content and any violence is more slapstick than that which includes physical pain inflicted on characters. Representation: The Misfits have a wide variety of skin tones and an ever greater diversity of skills!

Thanks for the DRC, NetGalley.

[Josephine Sorrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copycat Conundrum is Book 2 in the Misfits series and is just as great as number 1, The Royal Conundrum. Our Misfit friends start off with strange bank robberies, earthquakes and threatening letters delivered to Zeke while researching his ancestors, prompting The Misfits to investigate and discover an art forgery plot.

The story is fun and full of silliness 3rd-4th grade readers enjoy.

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Misfits are investigating a string of burglaries that happen during very localized earthquakes, an art forgery case at a small museum, and a fellow student’s (Zeke’s) family history project that results in him learning about long lost treasure and subsequently getting threatening letters. As the Misfits get deeper into each investigation the more the cases seem to overlap. How are these cases connected? And who is the mastermind behind them all?

It's nice to see the Misfits working together now that they know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and have bonded as a team. This was a very convoluted mystery! I’m impressed Yee was able to bring all the various parts together and explain it in a way that didn’t seem overly complicated. I liked the touches of humor throughout and how the kids continued to grow in their skills and teamwork through the story. It was an enjoyable spy mystery.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: Violence is threatened at some points, but no one is actually hurt.
Ethnic diversity: Olive is Chinese American, Imani is Middle Eastern American, Iggy is Japanese American???, Theo is white American, and James is Black American, Zeke is Hispanic American (I think). Other side characters come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: There’s greed and selfishness involved in the motive of the crime.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great adventure with Olive and Co [The Misfits]; gold and art theft, counterfeiting, weird phenomenon, all lead to solving a very puzzling mystery [at least I was puzzled. LOL]. OH! And don't forget *whispers - secretrooms* [because who doesn't love a secret room. Or two. Or three. ;-) ]

This book is just as good as book 1 [and in some ways even better as the characters are more fleshed out], is very well-written [with excellent illustrations] and leaves you wishing you had another one to dive right into. As long as they keep writing this series, I will be here reading them.

Well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lisa Yee, Dan Santat - Illustrator, and Random House for Young Readers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it! Not sure if I liked it as much as the first but still really good. Took me a minute to remember things and catch back up. Hoping for the third one soon since it clearly did the set up. Great MG recommend!

[Juliette Anderson]

It was such a good Book in the 2 book series and is heart warming and on the edge of your seat kind of book.

[Katherine Bichler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Middle Grade Mystery

Second book in a mystery series very similar to City Spies. A group of misfits try and find out who is threatening their friend.
Easy, quick read.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Netgalley

After their amazing adventures in The Royal Conundrum, Olive and her band of Misfits are back at the Reforming Arts School near San Francisco. Olive's made her peace with the fact that her entire family has been secret agents and not told her, and she's enjoying her training. When Zeke, a rather cute classmate, confides in her that he has been receiving threatening notes, she tries to help him without bringing in her other friends, but when a very localized earthquake leads to a bank robbery, some of the information about Zeke's family's past ties in with the present threats to local safety. Researching the history of Zeke's great great uncle leads to finding a secret space under Foggy Manor and the history of golden and ships in California. A trip to Blight Beach to look into odd happenings at the Karbon art museum uncovers some interesting facts about local artist Birdie, who is an expert in replicating antique artifacts. In between investigations, which do involve the Misfits, there's lots of training, interesting adults helping the kids out (Rance Reed, the actor the children hire, comes into play), antique coins, a machine that causes earthquakes, and yummy treats from the Butter Bakery!
Strengths: This was a fun, upbeat romp, with plenty of goofiness and adventure. Santat's illustrations (which aren't shown in their full glory in the ARC) will make this even more appealing to younger readers. Yee, who frequently posts pictures of her walks on social media, gives us a good look at the area around Foggy Island, and I love that the students at the school are encouraged to travel around on their own to sharpen their spy skills. It also puts them in a better position to save runaway cable cars, visit museums, find hidden locations, and eat baked goods (and even heave internships!) at the Butter Bakery. There are bits of intriguing named spy gear, like the ComChomp retainer like device, Foggy Gogs, and the BoBu (boat bus, necessary from getting from the island to the mainland). I'm hoping to see some development with the relationship with Zeke, which reminds me a bit of the one that Ben and Erica have in Spy School. I am also looking forward to seeing a bit more of Olive's grandmother, Mouse!
Weaknesses: While I love that Olive is a fan of Agatha Christie, I can't say that I've been able to get a student to read any of her books in fifteen years. Of course, the reason to include older titles is probably to encourage students to pick them up, which I can't fault.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want a spy mission similar to those in Carter's Gallagher Girls series (2006), Walden's H.I.V.E. (2008), Buckley's N.E.R.D.S. (2009), Bradley's Double Vision (2012), Salane's Lawless books or Hale's Playing With Fire series (both 2013), Bernstein's Bridget Wilder, Spy in Training (2015). McMullen's Mrs. Smith's Spy School For Girls. I guess it's been a while since we've had a good kid spy series other than Gibb's Spy School (2012, but a new book almost every year) and Ponti's City Spies (2020, with a new book out frequently).

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Olive Cobin Zang is happily settling in at RASCH, an arts-oriented boarding school on an island in San Francisco Bay.  In the previous installment of this series, Olive made friends with the rest of the Misfits - her classmates who have been inducted into NOCK (No One Can Know), a crime-fighting organization with adult members including the school’s headmistress, the San Francisco police chief, and Olive’s own parents and grandmother.  Having foiled an international jewel thief, the crew now turns their attention to a potential art heist, involving a sunken ship, a missing treasure, ancient Chinese artifacts, ice cream, a reality TV show, and even the Oscar Mayer Wiener-mobile.  Olive is approached by a classmate named Zeke, who confides that he is receiving anonymous letters urging him to stop researching his family’s history.  When the Misfits head into the city to investigate Zeke’s story, they are surprised to experience localized earthquakes that coincide with bank robberies.  The plot thickens when the kids find a hidden bunker full of treasure underneath the school, and make a connection to a local art museum and a scheme to counterfeit priceless art.  Twists and turns abound as the kids of NOCK work to find out who is responsible and how to stop them before the truth is revealed on national television!  

This is a worthy follow-up to The Royal Conundrum; fans of that book will enjoy getting reacquainted with the Misfits and their group dynamic, particularly the bond between Olive and her inventive best friend Phil.  In The Copycat Conundrum, character development and relationship-building take a back seat to fast-paced action, good old-fashioned detective work, and high-tech gadgetry (courtesy of Phil), but the narrative is laced with heartfelt moments and witty banter in between chase scenes and interrogations.  After a lot of red herrings and missteps, the mystery eventually has a tidy resolution, which includes a brief family reunion for Olive, but almost immediately foreshadows the Misfits’ next adventure.  It’s all set against well-described and very cool San Francisco sites, both on and off Foggy Island, with an entertaining cast of diverse characters.  Black and white illustrations from Dan Santat enhance the fun in every chapter.  Profiles of the agents and some of their favorite gadgets are appended. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Rose's Book's! · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2 stars ⭐️

This book took me a while to get through—not because it wasn’t good, but because I was in a bit of a reading slump. Thankfully, Copycat Conundrum pulled me right out of it!

After solving the Royal Rumpus, Olive Cobin Zang and her fellow Misfits are riding high. As part of NOCK (No One Can Know), a covert agency that recruits ultra-smart kids to handle high-stakes missions, the team is used to danger and secrets. But things take a strange turn when their sweet, seemingly harmless classmate Zeke starts getting threatening notes—and the Misfits can’t figure out why.

At the same time, San Francisco is being rocked by odd earthquakes, and priceless works of art begin to disappear. The Misfits are sent to investigate, but the clues don’t quite add up. Is someone targeting Zeke… or hiding behind him? Could the quakes and the thefts be part of something much bigger than anyone imagined?

I loved being back in this world—Olive is as fun and clever as ever, and the team dynamics are still a highlight. Each Misfit brings something unique to the table, and it’s always entertaining (and sometimes chaotic) watching them work together.

That said, parts of the story didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The plot was intriguing, but it felt rushed in places, and some of the twists didn’t make much sense. The biggest head-scratcher was Noah’s reveal—yes, it was a clever twist, but I honestly didn’t understand how he managed to fool everyone. It felt a little too convenient and left me with more questions than answers.

Still, Lisa Yee’s writing is energetic and witty, and even when the plot got confusing, I was invested in the characters and their mission. There’s so much potential in this series, and I’m looking forward to what comes next.

I really do hope that the next book is better because I love Lisa tee as an author!!

See You Next time!
📚📖

[Rapunzel Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Copycat Conundrum was such a fun read! I loved the madcap wit and adventure of the first book in the series, and though second books often struggle to live up to that momentum, this one never does. Olive and the other Misfits crack this second mystery with the same humor, heart, and brilliant character relationships that made A Royal Conundrum so much fun. Even more so than book 1, A Copycat Conundrum has a fabulously quirky supporting cast, with a bevy of new characters whose oddities and surprises made the mystery all the more entertaining, and getting to know the Misfits themselves better was so much fun. I’ll definitely want to get my hands on a finished copy once this one comes out to admire all the final illustrations! I highly recommend A Copycat Conundrum who are looking for a fun series in the tradition of Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls and The Mysterious Benedict Society.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this follow-up to the first book, the gang of unlikely detectives living in a school in a boarding school in San Francisco is at it again, using special devices such as Glowgrow Sticks, Cloud Cover, and Puke Pellets [ugh!] to solve several mysteries that might involve their classmate Zeke and may or may not be connected. There are unexplained earthquakes, strange ice cream vendors, a museum, priceless art pieces, gold, and dastardly individuals afoot. The story will please fans of this series. After all, who doesn't like to see underdogs get on top for once? As usual, there are passages describing yummy foods, especially desserts and snacks, and plentiful moments of empowerment that guarantee these kids will be perfectly fine, whether they have adults in their lives or not. The book's title fits the main problem faced by the Misfits perfectly, and the fast pace of the plot makes it a good middle-grade read, especially since there are several illustrations that help readers see the characters and the action.

[Bethany Mock (bethanyburiedinbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read the first book in this series but would happily grab after reading this one! These characters were such a fun group to get to know! This group of crime fighting misfits are back on the case again trying to solve the most recent problem of earthquakes in San Francisco. You may think that’s normal but these earthquakes only affect 2 city blocks at a time! At the same time a high end piece of art goes missing and it’s up to the Misfits to see if these activities are tied together.

These wholesome characters were so fun to watch as they piece together all of the clues of the earthquakes and missing art! I love how lighthearted and entertaining the adventure was and how neat and creative the gadgets used were! I think this book is perfect for children who love silliness in stories but also adventure and mysteries! The illustrations and audiobook enhanced the story and brought vivid imagery to the story! I highly recommend this one to those elementary school readers!

[Theresa Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Misfits, A Copy Cat Conundrum, the second installment in this clever adventure series by Lisa Yee, is even better than the first. As we get to know each of the misfits better, we learn how valuable they are to each other; a true family is forming.

This time around, their friend Zeke is getting threatening letters. Zeke thinks it has something to do with his great-great uncle’s involvement with a shipment of gold and valuable art that went missing, which leads them to a secret room in the castle and some very entertaining adventures in a museum.

Meanwhile, strange things are happening in nearby San Francisco, and the Misfits are called upon to investigate. Could the two cases be related? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

[Susan James · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Copycat Conundrum is another fantastic mystery from Lisa Yee that had me hooked from page one. Olive and the Misfits are clever, funny, and totally endearing—it’s a joy to follow them on another wild adventure. The story is full of smart twists, fast pacing, and just the right amount of heart. I especially loved how the mystery tied into history and artifacts, and how the clues all came together in such a satisfying way. Yee has a real talent for writing characters that feel fresh and relatable, and the group dynamics between the kids are pitch-perfect. This is a smart, fun read that’s great for middle grade readers, and honestly just as enjoyable for adults who love a good mystery with warmth and humor. I can’t wait to see what the Misfits get up to next!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Misfits, undercover agents for NOCK (No One Can Know), find themselves working on a bank robbery job. While in San Francisco, isolated earthquakes are causing disruptions to the power grid, and someone is using the anomaly to empty bank tellers cash drawers. Also, Olive's friend Zeke is receiving threatening letters - he has recently become quite interested in the history of his great-great-uncle Ezekiel, and his research is making someone nervous. Is this a job for the the Misfits?

Another fun adventure/mystery. The kids don't seem as young as in the last book - and I liked that. The Old West/ Gold Mining / Chinese Art arc was fun. I love their gadgets. This is building into a really fun series. I'll be recommending The Misfits. The group is a mix of races and cultures.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It continues to be a fantastic series that connect a fun but serious mystery with a cast of characters that readers love. They're in the beautiful San Francisco at their base but these weird earthquakes are happening and Zeke's in danger- are they connected? The gang gets together to try to solve it.

The e-arc didn't have a lot of the artwork which is TK, so I was a little sad to not get the full effect which I know will be stellar with the creative hand of Santat. But Yee puts together a romp that creates a vivid setting, includes cool gadgets, and adds Asian history too.

What will the gang conquer next?

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Misfits are back in A COPYCAT CONUNDRUM by Lisa Yee with art by Dan Santat! When classmate Zeke receives threatening letters, the crew digs into his family history, discovering ties to art thefts and counterfeiting. The Misfits deploy their unique skills honed at RASCH to unravel the mystery. In this second installment of the series, the quirky characters in the Misfits crew continue to develop and the new supporting characters introduced as part of this caper add interest and depth to the plot. This quick paced illustrated story has plenty of twists and turns along with lots of humor and a side of fantastical tech devices that will keep readers guessing—and rooting for the Misfits!

[Unicornwithbooksx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serinin ilk kitabından daha da aksiyonluydu ve daha çok sevdim. Kitabın sonunda öyle şeyler oldu ki baya bir şok olarak okudum. Mimi’yle sonunda bir buluşma gerçekleşti çok sevindim. Minnoşlanacağımız bir hikaye aynı zamanda hem çocuklar hem de büyükler okuyabilir. Olaylar asla durulmuyordu. Olive çocuklar yine zekiliklerini ortaya koymuştu. Okurken dedim ki ekip gibi ekip ya. Aşırı tatlılardı. İggy ve James çok komik bayılıyorum ikisine, atışmaları bence kitaba eğlence katıyor. Severek okudum iyi ki tanıştım dediğim bir evren oldu. Yazar galiba Agatha Christie hayranı çünkü okurken bir bölümde onun dedektifini okumuş olduk. Agatha Chriestie özlediğimi fark ettim hemen okumam lazım.

[Donna Metler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recieved a free eARC of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

This is the second book in a series.
The misfits are a group of kids secret agents, working for NOCK-nobody can know, a black ops agency. When one of their classmates starts getting threatening letters, the misfits investigate and discover an art forgery plot.

This is an enjoyable early chapter book which will likely appeal to many students. It's a little on the silly side,which is perfect for many of my 3rd-4th graders.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Misfits are back! There’s action right from the start and I think that’s why I enjoyed this one more than the first. An earthquake, a bank robbery, and threatening letters lead our crew to investigate the possible connections. The illustrations, humor, action and mystery is what makes this one so enjoyable for young readers. My 3rd-5th graders will love this sequel.

* Thank you to NetGalley for the advance digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest review.

[Endrit Nikqi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I received a DRC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
“Oof! After solving the case of the Royal Rumpus, Olive Cobin Zang and her elite team of underdogs are on top of the world. As the awkward, crime-fighting Misfits, they’re acing every mission thrown at them from NOCK (aka No One Can Know, the covert agency they work for).

But when their classmate Zeke starts receiving threatening notes, the Misfits are stumped. They’re no strangers to danger, but this case is a total head-scratcher. Who would target kind, friendly Zeke . . . unless he’s not what he seems to be?

At the same time, unusual earthquakes start shaking up San Francisco just as priceless art goes missing, and the Misfits are called to investigate. Is it a coincidence that the city is under attack while Zeke is getting mysterious messages? Or is it all just a cover for a scheme bigger than any they’ve faced before?”

Book 1 was already a very charming and fun novel, and book 2 was even better than the previous book! THe characters are charming, and while this book is a little silly, it still is also a very fun middle grade novel. This book is fun for kids in 3rd through 6th Grade, and I would highly recommend this book to reluctant readers.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in The Misfits series, A Copycat Conundrum picks up where the first book stops. If you haven't read the first one I felt like this would make a pretty solid standalone.

The story was well written and definitely left the series in a great place for book three. I really love the emphasis on friendship and teamwork, while also leaving space for family redemptions.

***50 States Challenge: California

Thank you Random House Kids for the gifted copy.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Misfits are back and have a new case to solve. In fact, they have several that they are working on. After their research and investigations, they realize the cases are all connected and set out to solve both the current art thefts and the century old disappearance of a ship and its contents. I appreciate how the characters have grown and continue to bond together as a team.
Even if you haven't read the first book, Yee provides enough back story to follow what is happening in this one.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as much of a delight as the first book, as we follow the Misfits on to further adventures. In this volume, they are after someone who has been stealing and counterfeiting art. There's also a connection to a fellow RASCH student, whose great grandfather was once imprisoned on the island for his role in a long ago shipwreck and theft. A rollicking good time!

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved following The Misfits as they solved another mystery. I enjoyed this book more than the first. I love that the group works so well together as a team, utilizing all of their strengths to solve the mystery. I enjoyed the story as much as I enjoyed the illustrations and will be picking up the next installment of this series when it releases in 2026.

[LS Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sequels are so tough. This one is still really good and the characters are a little more developed. I guess there is just something about learning about the characters for the first time and watching how they handle the mysteries. This one was still very exciting.